ABC News "Nightline" Nanny Poll, November 1997

This special topic poll, conducted on November 10, 1997, sought respondents' views on the same-day decision by a judge to reverse the jury verdict in the criminal case against British au pair Louise Woodward. Respondents were reminded of the October 1997 verdict in which a jury found Woodward guilty of killing a baby boy who was left in her care by shaking him. They were then asked to give their opinions on the judge's decision to reduce the verdict from murder to manslaughter and to reduce Woodward's sentence to the nine months she had spent in jail awaiting trial. Those queried were asked whether they believed that judges should have the power to change jury verdicts in criminal cases. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex.